Kathmandu, 5 January 2001: The Sher Bahadur Deuba led rebel faction still looks determined to oust Premier Koirala from the leadership of the government even after the failure of yesterday’s attempt. The no trust motion against Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala by the dissidents was defeated by majority on Thursday after which a press conference was called where the rebel leader announced that their struggle now would be to replace the Nepali Congress party leadership in the forthcoming tenth national convention beginning 17 –22 January in Pokhara.

Deuba who had been demanding secret voting said that the no trust motion was not put forward in the parliamentary party meeting and thus rejected the decision for open ballots. He was joined by 41 of his rebel crew in his boycottt of the voting for the no trust motion against Prime Minster Girija Prasad Koirala while two abstained and one Krishna Prasad Bhattarai did not attend the meeting. Deuba however, said that the campaign against Koirala in the party’s national convention would now be intensified. The Secretary of the Nepali Congress Parliamentary Party Benup Raj Prasai announced open voting in which 69 MPs rejected the no trust motion.

Answering to speculations of any possibility of the party splitting Deuba said, “It is impossible. At a time when I am prepared to give leadership to the party, how can I think of splitting the party.” However Deuba who has already announced his challenge to Koirala’s party leadership in the coming up national convention, will be starting his campaign from the eastern region next week. All 41 lawmakers who boycotted yesterday’s NC parliamentary party meeting were present in the press conference.

Meanwhile Koirala, whose supporters said Thursday that the vote was free, fair and constitutional has also announced his candidacy for the party president.